Rotary folding mechanism



Sept. 14, 1937.

E. W. DEAN ROTARY FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 13, 1936 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 14, 1937 PATENT OFFICE.

2,093,234 I ROTARY FOLDING MECHANISM Edmund W. Dean, Battle Creek, Mich, assignor to Duplex Printing Press Company, Battle Creek, Mich.

Application August 13, 1936, Serial No. 95,761

5 Claims.

This invention relates to rotary folding mechanism and particularly to such folding mechanism adapted for use in foldingnewspapers printed on rotary web presses. It relates to the structure shown in United States Letters Patent 1,203,464,

issued October 31, 1916, to Henry F. Bechman for Rotary folding mechanism, and to my copending application for patent Serial No. 79,697 filed May 14, 1936, for Rotary folding mechanism for print- 1() ing presses.

The invention has for its objects,

First, to produce new and improved apparatus for adjusting the position of the tucker blades of a, rotary folding mechanism while the folding mechanism is in operation.

Second, to provide such a mechanism which may be operated with a minimum of effort and most efiiciently.

Third, to provide such an apparatus which is electrically operated.

Objects and advantages relating to construction and operation will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims. A structure embodying the featuresof my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of'the end of a cutting and folding mechanism showing my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the motor and gearing, viewed from the left of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the end of a folding mechanism on which my inventionis employed.

Referring to the drawing, I is the folding cylinder about which the web of paper 2 passes from a press, such as a newspaper printing press. 3 are the pins for carrying the paper along the folding roll.

4 with a pressed fit as at 5. The shaft 4 is journaled in a frame 6 and a bushing I serves as a The shaft bearing for the rotation of the shaft. is provided with an axial bore 8. A plate 9 is mounted at each end of the cylinder, and. similar intermediate plates maybe provided, as is well The folding cylinder is mounted on a shaft The plate is provided with bearings I4 in which are journaled shafts I5 which carry the tucker blades I6 and the gears H which are in mesh with the internal gear I8 for rotating the tucker blades as the cylinder and plate rotate. On the 5 edge of the plate are provided gear teeth I9 and a shaft 20 extends through the cylinder and is provided with gear teeth 2I at its ends which mesh with the gear teeth I9 on the plate. Rotation of the shaft 20 will thus, through the meshing 10' gear teeth I9 and 2|, adjust the position of the plate 9 with reference to the cylinder. A similar shaft I20 extends to the plate at the other end of the cylinder or to any intermediate plates which may be employed in the cylinder for carrying the tucker blades. The shaft extends substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder. I.

A coupling 22 connects the ends of the shafts, which are pinned at 23 to the coupling, and the coupling is provided with a gear 24 having oblique 20 teeth thereon. A gear 25 is mounted on an axis 25 substantially at right angles to the shaft 20, and is supported by a bracket 21 attached to the cylinder. The gear 25 is provided with oblique teeth meshing with the teeth on the gear 24 so 5 that rotation of the gear 25 will rotate the gear 24 and the shaft 20 to adjust the position of the plate 9.

Within the bore 8 is provideda control rod, 28 which is provided with diagonal teeth 29 in mesh 30 with the teeth of the gear 25. This rod is free for axial movement in the bore 8 so that by suchmovement it may rotate the gear 29 to adjust the position of the plates 9 on the cylinder I. The rod is provided with a flattened side 30 to prevent rotation in the cylinder, and a washer 3| fitting I thereover is attached to the end of theshaft 4.

The shaft 4 is cut away, as shown, to permit the gear25 to engage the teeth 29 on the control rod 28. At the end of the control rod 28 is a neck 32 forming a shoulder 33. A shifting member 34, screw-threaded at 35 in the frame 6 and having a bore 36, fits over the neck 32. A thrust bearing 31 is seated between the shoulder 33 and the shifting member 34. The bore 36 is enlarged at 38 to provide a shoulder 39 and a machine screw 40 in the end of the control rod engages a bearing 4] which is disposed between the head of the machine screw and the-shoulder 39. In this way v the shifting member 34 is swiveled on the end of thecontrol rod 28 and by turning the shifting member 34 in the screw-threaded portion 350i the frame 6, it is possible tomove the control rod in or out to adjust the position of the plates 9.

On the shifting member 35 I provide a wide faced worm gear 42. The face 43 of this gear is flat for a purpose which will be explained. A bracket 44 on the frame 6 supports an electric motor- 45. This motor is of the reversingtype and need not be described in detail. The motor is provided with a shaft 46 which carries a worm 47 which engages the worm gear 42. I provide switching means 4H which need not be described in detail which controls the operation of the electric motor, the button 48 serving to drive the motor ahead and the button 49 serving as a reverse. It will be apparent that by pressing the button 48 it is possible throughthe motor to drive the shifting member 34 to rotate it and to shift the plates 9 with reference to the cylinder l. Actuating the reverse switch 49 will move the plates in the opposite direction.

By employing a wide faced worm gear it is possible to have the worm in mesh with the worm gear throughout the turning of the shift ing means 34 because as the shifting means 34 moves to the right or left, as viewed in Fig. 1, the worm remains in mesh. It is possible with this arrangement, by simply pressing a button,-

to adjust the position of the plate 9 with refer ence to the cylinder l and in this wayit is possible to obtain exact'adjustment of the tucker blade l6 so that the desired fold can be obtained with the folder regardless of the speed at which the cylinder I is revolved.

I have described my' improvements in detail, but modifications and adaptations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. I desire to claim the invention specifically as well as broadly,

'; as indicated in the appendedclaims.

.Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In a folding apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a frame, a rotary folding cylinder journaled in said frame and having an axial bore, plates associated with saidxcylinder for rotation therewith, said plates carrying rotary tucker blades, a shaft in said cylinder substantially parallel to the axis thereof, gearing between said shaft and said plates for angularly adjusting the position. of said plates with reference'to said cylinder, a control rod in the axial bore in said cylinder and extending therefrom, a shifting means screw-threaded. in said frame andswiveled on the outer end of said control rod for shifting said rod axially in said bore, connecting means connecting said shaft and said control rod in such manner that axial movement of said con-; trol rod rotates said shaft, a wide faced worm gear having a flat face and fixed on said shifting means, a reversible electric motor mounted on said frame, a. wormdriven by said motor and in mesh with said worm gear, and switch means to control said motor for driving said worm in either direction.

2. In a folding apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, a rotary folding cylinder journaled in said frame and having an axial bore, plates carrying rotary tucker blades, adjusting means for angularly adjusting the position of said plates with reference to said cylinder, control means for said adjusting means extending axially of said cylinder .and in said bore and movable axially to actuate said adjusting means, shifting means screw-threaded in' said frame and swiveled'on said control means Where-- thereby and in mesh with said worm gear, and

switch means for controling said electric motor whereby said worm may be rotated in either direction. I

3. In a folding apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, a rotary folding cylinder journaled in said frame and having an axial bore, plates carrying rotary tucker blades, adjusting means for angularly adjusting the position of said plates with reference to saidcylinder, control means for said adjusting means extending axially of said cylinder and in said bore and movable axially to actuate said adjusting means, shifting means screw-threaded in said frame and swiveled on said control means whereby the position of the plates may be adjusted while said cylinder and said plates are rotated, a reversible electric motor mounted on said frame, gearing connecting said motor to said shifting means whereby said shifting means is axial bore, plates carrying rotary tucker blades,

adjusting means for angularly adjusting the position of said plates with reference to said cylinder, control means for said adjusting means extending axially of said cylinder and in said bore and movable axially to actuate saidadjusting means, shifting means screw-threaded in said frame and swiveled on said control means whereby the position of the plates may be adjusted while said cylinder and said plates are rotated, a wide faced worm gear having a flat face and fixed on said shifting means, a reversible electric motor mounted on said frame, means connecting said motor and said shifting means whereby said shifting means is rotated, and switch means for controlling said electricmotcr whereby said worm may be driven in either direction.

5. In a folding apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, a rotary folding cylinder journaled in said frame and'having" an axial bore, plates carrying rotary tucker blades, adjusting means for angularly'adjusting the position of said plates with reference to said cylinder, control means for said adjusting means extending axially of said cylinder and in said bore and movable axially to actuate said adjusting means, shifting means screw-threaded in said a wide faced worm gear having a fiatface and fixed on said shifting means, a reversible electric motor mounted on said frame, a gear on said shifting means and. a gear in mesh therewith and operatively connected to said motor to be driven;

thereby, one of said gears having a'wide face whereby said gears will remain in mesh at differ ent positions of said shifting means, and switch means for controlling said electric motor whereby said worm may be driven in either direction.

' a EDMUND W. DEAN. 

